Plural lamp-socket.



R. B. BENJAMIN. PLURAL LAMP SOGKET.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 17, 1904. 93 1 ,721 Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

R. BENJAMIN.

PLUBAL LAMP SOCKET. A v LPPLIOATIOH FILED OUT. 17, 1904. 93 1,721 I Patented-Aug. 24. 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

,azwa A/ R. B. BENJAMIN.

PLURAL LAMP SOCKET. APPLICATION FILED 0OT.17,}1904.

Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

3 SHEBTSSHEET 3.

unrrnn stra ns PALIENT onnic.

REUBEN B. BENJ'AIBT,0 F GKIGMO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB T-O BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING 'OOIP'ANY, 43F *GHIGAG-O, :ILLETOIS, "A EOBPUBATION OF ILLINOIS.

Puma-L LAMP-SOCKET.

931,121. a m i n s P tentrateneeu Aug. 2a, 1909.

.Amilicationfilcd October 17, race. SeriaI No. 228,891.

which the socket shade may be removed therefrom for the'purpose of cleaning,'without disturbing the electrical connections of the device. I

Another object ofmy invention is the provision 'of a plural lamp socket in which a minimum sized'insulating base for the lamp contacts may be used, in a socket adapted to accommodate a comparatively large number of "lamps. Another object of my invention is the provision of means whereby a comparatively small body ortion for the socket may be employed without reducing the number of the lamps.

:Another object of my invention is the provision of improved means for supporting the lamp contacts and easing of'the socket in posit on and for connecting the lamps in circtut.

:The other novel features of my invention will clearly appear from the following descr ption and the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals are used to designate like partsin the several figures,

and in which;

Figure '1 is a diametrical sectional view of a plural lam socket embodying my invention, the section being taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction.indicated by the arrows; Fig. 2 is a to plan View of the form of device shown in i ig. 1, omittin the'shadc and shade-holder- Fig. 3 IS a ttom plan view'of the insulating block orbase, with the contacts, conducting plates and the like secured thereto; Fig. 4 1s a perspective view of a portion of the base, this portion constituting one member of a bayonet joint fOIKSECUTHIg the body of the device to the base; Fig. 5 is'a view of a de--:

tail, partly sectional on the line 5-5 ofFig. 1 F-1g. 6 1s a sectional view similar to Fig. 1,

but showing the body of the device detached from the base; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the body of the device detached from the base; Fig. 8 is'a vertical sectional view of a modified form of device embodying my invention; Fig. 9 is a bottom planview of the insulating base of this form of the device; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a cap or ring which surrounds the upper portion of the base and is provided with suitable means for detachably engaging corresponding means on the body portion of the device when the parts are put together; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a ring or plate which forms the upper side of the body of the device; Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a further modified form of device; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a detail.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, I provide a small insulating base or block 1, made of porcelain or other suitable insulating material, preferably secured to a suitable conduit or pipe 2, the screw-threaded end of said pipe being arranged to engage a bushing 3 secured to the base 1 in a suitable manner, as by the screws or bolts 4:, c. It will be seen that the screw-threaded bushing 3 may be removed, and the insulating base be secured to the ceiling or othersuitable support by screws'or bolts, without the 'interventionof the conduit or pipe 2. The supporting pipe 2, is adapted to serve also as a conduit or chan- [nel for the leading-in Wires. The center contacts for the lamps are carried upon the insulating block or base 1, and preferably consist of a band or ring 4, having extended :portions or fingers 5, one of said fingers bemg disposed opposite each of the lamp receivers, and forming a spring contact for engagement with the center contact of'the lamp. The center contacts are connected with one of the leading-in wires by means of the binding screw 5, mounted upon a suitable contact late 7, secured to the base by the screws or o'lts 8, and having the end thereof overlapping and forming electrical means of a-suitable ring or plate 1-1, said shells being preferably secured thereto by the screws 12, 12, passing through small lugs or cars formed integral with said lamp receivers. A second ring or plate 13, secured in, any suitable manner to the opposite sides of sald lamp receivers aids in vholding the same in a rigid position at their upper ends.

The lamp receivers thus rigidly secured together by the rings or plates 11 and 13, are disposed within the inclosing casing or shell 14 which forms the body portion of the device. A binding screw15 is carried upon a suitable contact plate 16 mounted upon the insulating block or base 1, for electrically connectingthe lamp receiving shells 10, 10, with one of the'leading-in wires. The contact plate 16 is shown as electrically connected with the contact plate or ring 11, by means of a downwardly extending lug 17, formed thereon and connected by a screw 18 with a corresponding lug 19 carried by the contact plate or ring 11 a transverse slot being formed in the lug 19 for receiving the screw. The lugs 17 and 19 and the screw 18 are adapted to electrically connect the contact plates 16 and 11 and to lock the bayonet joint for securing the inclosing casing 14 and-its contained parts to the insulating block or base 1, as hereinafter described. Soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the periphery or open end of the substantially semi-spherical casing 14, is a metallic ring 20, carrying a series of interior projections 21, arranged to entercut-out portions or apertures 22 formed in the periphery of the insulating block or base 1. The projections or lugs 21 carried by the ring 20 co-act 1n the cut-out portions in the insulating base 1 to form a bayonet joint by means of which the inclosing casing or shell 14 and its contamed parts are supported upon the insulating block or base 1. Any suitable fastening device may be substituted for the bavo-- net joint herein shown and described. The screw 18 carried by the lug 17 formed upon the contact plate 16 is adapted to enter the open slot formed in the lug 19 carried by the contact plate or ring 11 when the casing is shghtly rotated to the right to lock the bayonet oint consisting of the lugs 21 and cut-out portions 22 It will be seen, therefore, that afterthe casing is lockedin position upon the base 1, by means of the bayonet joint, the screw 18 may be driven home and serve the double purpose of locking the bayonet joint to securely hold the casing in position, and of forming an electrical connection between the lamp receiving shells and the contact plate 16.

A suitable shade holder 23 is preferably secured to the pipe or conduit 2, and secures in position over the socket a cluster shade 24 which is shown in the drawing with the outer part thereof broken away. A ring 25 ofrubber or other resilient material is prefof the insulating base.-

'sition' in erably disposed. between the socket and the shade 24, for the purpose of protecting the shade from jolts and jars. 4

By the use of the plate vor ring 20 it is made possible to use a contact-carrying base of considerably smaller diameter than the bases used in older forms of devices, wherein the edge of the hemispherical shell forming the casing engages directly with the base. By this means I am enabled to so far reduce the diameter of the base as to permit it to pass through the opening in the shade when the latter is passed on or 0H after the body portion of the device is removed. As the binding-screws 6 and 15 are carried by the base, the removal of the body portion of the device can be efiected without disturbing the connection between the leading-in wires and these binding-screws. When the casing is thus removed, it carries with it the lamp-receivers 10, 10 and when the casing is again placed in position the electrical connection between the leading-in wires and the contacts of the lamp-holders is automatically made simultaneously with the mechanical securing of the'parts together. When the casing is removed in this manner the shade 24 may be passed ofi over the base without disturbing the electrical connections between the leading-in wires and the hinding-screws.

Small metallic sleeves 26, 26, for protecting the lamp receiving shells 10, 10 are soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the inclosing casing 14, whereby a much smaller sized inclosing casing 14 may be used than if said casing was adapted toinclose the outer edges of the lamp receiving shells 10, 10, the inclosing casing 14 being comparatively close to the insulating block or base 1. A neater and more compact cluster or plural lamp socket is secured. The sleeves 26, 26'

are of suitable size to receive individual shade holders 28, as shown in Figs. 1' and 2, a bead 27 being formed upon each of the sleeves for preventing the shade holder from slipping therefrom after the same has once been placed in position. Any suitable means may be provided in lieu of the annular beads 27 for securin the individual shade holders 28 in position. By this arrangement the individual shades may be used upon the socket in addition to the cluster sh'ade 24.

An insulating lining 29 preferably of fiber or other suitable material, is provided for the inclosing casing 14, and for the sleeves 26, 26, securedthereto. A insulating lining is also pre erably disposed upon the interior of the rin' 20, as shown in Fig. 1. The lining 29 may e secured in poany suitable manner, and has overlapping edges 30 at the joints thereof as shown, in order to more thoroughly insulate the live parts of the socket from the casing,

ortion of said 31, although this is not essential.

and the other non-current carrying parts thereof.

Referring now to the form shown in Figs. 8 to 11, the screw threaded bushing 3 is preferably inserted from the front of the msullting block 1 and has the edge thereof turned over a suitable compression washer The contact band or ring 4 is adapted to form electrical contact with the lamp receiving shells 10, 10 by means of 2 prong or upwardly extending arm 32, formed integrally with the contact ring or plate 11. If desired, one or more of said prongs 32 may be provided for engaging the contact ring or band 4 at suit,- able places upon its periphery. The center lamp contacts 5, 5, are carried upon the front face of the insulating block or base 1, and are held in position by a segmental plate 33, secured in position by screws 34", 34, or in any suitable manner. A binding screw 34 is carried by said plate 4, for con necting the center contacts with one of the leading-in wires. An arched late 36 spanning the segmental contact p ate 33, forms the center contact of a centrally disposed lamp receiving shell 35. A binding screw 37 is carried by the contact plate 38 for making connection with the other leading-in wire, and. is arranged in a recess or cut out portion in the insulating base or block 1. The binding screw 37 is adapted to electrically connect the lamp receiving shells 10 and 35 in the electric circuit by means of the upwardly extending prong or arm 32.

metal cap 39 surrounds and partly covers the rear portion of the base 1, and between tins cap and the bddy of the device connection 1s made by means of a form of bayonet oint, The cap 39 is provided with a pair of projections 41 which take into correspending depressions 41* in an upwardly cxtendi ring 40 which surrounds the opening an the plate 20. When the'body of t e device, comprising the casing and lampreceivers, is to be secured to the base, this body as put up in position and rotated to carry the projections 41 to the inner ends of the grooves or depressions 41. The placmg of the body in position causes the arm 32 to engage the ring 4, whereby electrical connection is made between the bindingscrew 37 and the outer contacts of the lampholders. It will beseen that the leading-in wlres are secured to the binding screws 34 and 37 carried by the insulating base 1 and that the casing 14 and its contained parts may be readily removed from the base 1, without many way disturbing the electrical connections of the socket.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 12, the binding screw 37 carried by the contact plate 38 disposed within a cut out portion formed. in the base 1, is adapted to electrically connect the center lamp contacts block 1.

' ened from the base '1.

- from said sleeves.

. said 5 with one of the leads, said contacts being secured in position by the contact band or ring 4 carried by ,the base. The outer lamp contacts or receivers 10, 10 are electrically connected by means of telescoping sleeves 42, one of said sleeves being carried by the contact ring or plate 33,the other of said sleeves the inclosing casing 14, and its. contained parts in position upon the insulating base or A suitable bayonet joint 47 is provided for mechanically uniting said sleeves, a screw 46 being adapted to lock said bayonet joint and to prevent the inclosingcasmg 14 from being shaken or accidentally loos- An L-shaped slot 45 is formed in one of the sleeves 42, said slot permitting the sleeves 42 to be disconnected one from the other after the screw 46 has been loosened, Without removing said screw may be had through one of the lamp receiving shells 10. It will be understood that any suitable mechanical supporting means carried upon the front of the insulating block or base 1, and adapted to mechanlcally support the inclosin'g casing 14 and its contamed parts upon the insulating base, may

Access to the screw 46 be adopted in lieu of the telescoping sleeves liaving described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis: I

1. In a plural lamp socket, the combination with a casing comprising a substantially hemispherical shell having a plurality of openings and a sleeve surrounding each of said openings. and :fixed to said casing, of a lamp-receiving shell disposed within each of said sleeves, said shells being. supportedby said casing and having each an car, a plate to which said ears are secured whereby said shells are electrically connected witi each other, binding-screws with n said casing, and means for making electrical connection between one of said binding-screws and late. a

2. plunality of openings, a sleeve secured in each of said openings, a lamp-receiving shell in each of said sleeves, and a lining rm within each sleeve for insulating the she from the sleeve, said rings having then m- Vner ends outwardly flanged to prevent withdrawal from the sleeves.

hecoinbination of a casing havinga & l

3. In a plural lamp socket, a base, contacts carried thereby, a casing forming. the body portion of the device and carrying other contacts, a shade provided with an opening of a diameter not less than that of said base to permit .the shade to be passed on over said base, and means for detachably securing said body portion to said base after said shade is in position.

4. In a plural lamp socket, the combination with an insulating block, of lamp contacts carried by said block, a suitable inclosing casing for the socket, lamp receivers cartacts for said lamps, also carried by the insulation, and an inclosing casing.

6. In a plural lamp socket, a casing of general hemispherical form having a plate disposed'therein, said plate lying in a plane at right angles to the axis of said casing and being formed with a central opening, an insulating base insertible .into said opening, lamp-engaging contacts carried by said base, and means for detachably securing said casing and base together.

7. In a plural lamp socket, a casin of general hemispherical form, lamp-hol ing devices carried by said casing, one of the contacts of each of said lamp-holding de vices being carried by the casing, said casing being provided with a wall disposed in a plane at right angles with the axis of said casing and provi ed with an opening, an insulating base insertible into said opening, other lamp-engaging contacts carried by said base, circult terminals carried by said base, means for securing said casing and base together, and means for simultaneously completing the electrical circuit.

8. In a plural lamp socket, a casing of general hemispherical form, lamp-holding devices carried by said casing, a contact carried by said casing for each of said lampholding devices, said casing having a wall disposed in a plane at right an les with the axis of said casing and provi ed with an opening, an insulating base insertible into said opening, other lamp-engaging contacts carried by said base, circuit terminals carried by said base,'means for securing said casing and base together and means simultaneously establishing electrical communicav tion between the lamps and the circuit terminals.

9. In a plural lamp socket, a casing constituting the body portion of the device, and

an insulating base arranged therein and carrying lamp-engaging contacts, said casing having an annular plate disposed within its larger portion and extending from said casing toward said base.

10. In a plural lamp socket, the combination of a base, lamp-engaging contacts carried thereby, a body portion carrying the lamps, a shade having an opening of sutlicient diameter to permit the base to be passed therethrough, and means for detachably securing said body portion to said base.

11. In a plural lamp socket, a base carry ing lamp-engaging contacts and circuit terminals, a casing torming the body portion of the device and carrying the lamps, said casing having a member extending inward toward said base, a shade arranged above said body portion, and a resilient ring disposed between said shade and said inwardlyextending member.

12. In a plural lamp socket, the combination of a base, lamp-engaging contacts carried thereby, a metallic casing, threaded lamp-receiving shells carried by said casing and insulated therefrom, a shade having an opening of suificient diameter to permit the base 'to be assed therethrough, and means for detachably securing said casing to said base.

13. A multiple cluster socket comprising a casing, a plurality of threaded shells, a

: ring and plate separate therefrom, said ring plate being attached to said shells to secure them together, bushing for securing said shells in said casing, and a common central terminal.

14. A multiple cluster socket comprising threaded shells having ears, a ring and a plate coaxial with one another andattached to said shells, and a common central ter- .minal.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN B. BENJAM1N. I 

